WSK-Mielec M-15 Belphegor
Encyclopedia
The Mielec M-15 was a jet
agricultural aircraft
, manufactured by PZL Mielec in Poland
for the USSR agricultural aviation. It was the only jet biplane
and only jet agricultural plane in the world. For its strange looks and noisy engine it was nicknamed Belphegor
after the noisy demon.
requirement for a new agricultural plane to use on great areas of the Soviet collective farms (kolkhoz
and sovkhoz
), more modern and efficient than the Antonov An-2SKh and An-2R
. Poland had already produced the agricultural Antonow An-2R under licence for export back to the USSR, and agricultural planes became a Polish specialization in the Comecon
. The Soviet side insisted on using a jet engine
in a new plane, and also participated in the design process.
In order to research new problems connected with using the jet engine on a slow agricultural biplane, first an experimental plane Lala-1 for Latające Laboratorium 1 was built in Poland and flown on 10 February 1972. It used the whole front part of an An-2, with wings, while the rear part was cut off and replaced with a frame construction, housing the Ivchenko-Progress AI-25
jet engine (known for powering the tri-engined Yakovlev Yak-40
and the Aero L-39 Albatros fighter-trainer). http://www.suchoj.com/andere/An-2/riss/Lala-1_07.jpg The Lala-1 was equipped with agricultural devices. Its tests helped to design the M-15.
The first variant of the M-15 was flown on 30 May 1973, and the second prototype on 9 January 1974. During the next few years it was intensively tested, along with a pre-production series. The M-15 was shown at the Paris Air Show
in 1976, where it was nicknamed the "Belphegor" due to its strange look.
Serial production started in 1976
. Soviet agriculture planned to order as many as 3,000 aircraft, but the first experiences of M-15 service were disappointing. The jet agricultural plane was not economical, and production ceased in 1981
after 175 aircraft were built. It was only used in the USSR.
, with a jet engine over the crew cab. Part of lower wings and chemicals tanks were made of a laminate
to avoid corrosion
. Upper and lower wings were connected with two thick columns, housing chemicals' tanks, 1450 l (377 US gal) each. Fixed tricycle landing gear. The crew was a pilot; two technicians could be carried if necessary. The M-15 was fitted with spraying and dusting gear, powered with compressed air.
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
agricultural aircraft
Agricultural aircraft
An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for agricultural use - usually aerial application of pesticides or fertilizer ; in these roles they are referred to as "crop dusters" or "top dressers"...
, manufactured by PZL Mielec in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
for the USSR agricultural aviation. It was the only jet biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
and only jet agricultural plane in the world. For its strange looks and noisy engine it was nicknamed Belphegor
Belphegor
In demonology, Belphegor is a demon, and one of the seven princes of Hell, who helps people to make discoveries. He seduces people by suggesting to them ingenious inventions that will make them rich. According to some 16th century demonologists, his power is stronger in April...
after the noisy demon.
Development
The aircraft was designed in Poland in response to a SovietSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
requirement for a new agricultural plane to use on great areas of the Soviet collective farms (kolkhoz
Kolkhoz
A kolkhoz , plural kolkhozy, was a form of collective farming in the Soviet Union that existed along with state farms . The word is a contraction of коллекти́вное хозя́йство, or "collective farm", while sovkhoz is a contraction of советское хозяйство...
and sovkhoz
Sovkhoz
A sovkhoz , typically translated as state farm, is a state-owned farm. The term originated in the Soviet Union, hence the name. The term is still in use in some post-Soviet states, e.g., Russia and Belarus. It is usually contrasted with kolkhoz, which is a collective-owned farm...
), more modern and efficient than the Antonov An-2SKh and An-2R
Antonov An-2
The Antonov An-2 is a single-engine biplane utility/agricultural aircraft designed in the USSR in 1946...
. Poland had already produced the agricultural Antonow An-2R under licence for export back to the USSR, and agricultural planes became a Polish specialization in the Comecon
Comecon
The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance , 1949–1991, was an economic organisation under hegemony of Soviet Union comprising the countries of the Eastern Bloc along with a number of communist states elsewhere in the world...
. The Soviet side insisted on using a jet engine
Jet engine
A jet engine is a reaction engine that discharges a fast moving jet to generate thrust by jet propulsion and in accordance with Newton's laws of motion. This broad definition of jet engines includes turbojets, turbofans, rockets, ramjets, pulse jets...
in a new plane, and also participated in the design process.
In order to research new problems connected with using the jet engine on a slow agricultural biplane, first an experimental plane Lala-1 for Latające Laboratorium 1 was built in Poland and flown on 10 February 1972. It used the whole front part of an An-2, with wings, while the rear part was cut off and replaced with a frame construction, housing the Ivchenko-Progress AI-25
Ivchenko-Progress AI-25
-See also:-External links:****...
jet engine (known for powering the tri-engined Yakovlev Yak-40
Yakovlev Yak-40
The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small, three-engined airliner that is often called the first regional jet transport aircraft...
and the Aero L-39 Albatros fighter-trainer). http://www.suchoj.com/andere/An-2/riss/Lala-1_07.jpg The Lala-1 was equipped with agricultural devices. Its tests helped to design the M-15.
The first variant of the M-15 was flown on 30 May 1973, and the second prototype on 9 January 1974. During the next few years it was intensively tested, along with a pre-production series. The M-15 was shown at the Paris Air Show
Paris Air Show
The Paris Air Show is the world's oldest and largest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport in north Paris, France...
in 1976, where it was nicknamed the "Belphegor" due to its strange look.
Serial production started in 1976
1976 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1976:-January:*January 1 - Middle East Airlines Flight 438, a Boeing 720, aircraft over Saudi Arabia when bomb exploded in the forward baggage compartment, aircraft destroyed killing 81.-March:...
. Soviet agriculture planned to order as many as 3,000 aircraft, but the first experiences of M-15 service were disappointing. The jet agricultural plane was not economical, and production ceased in 1981
1981 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1981:-January:* January 3 – Pan American World Airways makes its final Boeing 707 flight.* January 7 – A Boeing 747 of CAAC lands at John F...
after 175 aircraft were built. It was only used in the USSR.
Description
The aircraft was a metal twin-boom biplaneBiplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
, with a jet engine over the crew cab. Part of lower wings and chemicals tanks were made of a laminate
Laminate
A laminate is a material that can be constructed by uniting two or more layers of material together. The process of creating a laminate is lamination, which in common parlance refers to the placing of something between layers of plastic and gluing them with heat and/or pressure, usually with an...
to avoid corrosion
Corrosion
Corrosion is the disintegration of an engineered material into its constituent atoms due to chemical reactions with its surroundings. In the most common use of the word, this means electrochemical oxidation of metals in reaction with an oxidant such as oxygen...
. Upper and lower wings were connected with two thick columns, housing chemicals' tanks, 1450 l (377 US gal) each. Fixed tricycle landing gear. The crew was a pilot; two technicians could be carried if necessary. The M-15 was fitted with spraying and dusting gear, powered with compressed air.